Scottish businesses supported by Scottish Enterprise have delivered their highest-ever level of planned international sales — reaching an unprecedented £2.46 billion during 2024-25, a 20% increase on the previous year.
Scottish Enterprise — Scotland’s national economic development agency — said it met all of its performance targets for 2024-25 during the first full year of its “missions-based approach.”
Key results included:
- 15,000+ new and safeguarded real living wage jobs – the second highest on record
- £442 million in business innovation investment
- £1.16 billion in business capital expenditure – the second highest on record
- £367 million in growth funding leveraged
Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive Adrian Gillespie said: “This year we have achieved another impactful set of results, driven by our sharpened focus around three core missions – Accelerating the Energy Transition, Boosting Capital Investment, and Scaling Innovation.
“The fact that we have achieved this historic exporting high, despite challenging global economic conditions throughout the financial year, really highlights the ambition of Scotland’s business base, and the determination of our organisation to transform Scotland’s economy.
“Our track record shows we’ve consistently delivered for Scotland. Over the last five years we’ve supported the creation and safeguarding of around 90,000 jobs – leading to an estimated £1bn in income tax contributions – as well as generating more than £530m of our own income.”
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “Supporting our businesses to thrive is not only vital to growing the economy, but to creating jobs and putting more money in people’s pockets.
“I congratulate Scottish Enterprise on these impressive results, particularly the record figure for forecast export sales, which demonstrates international demand for Scottish goods, products and services. We will continue to support Scottish businesses to grow internationally, despite ongoing uncertainties in global trade.
“It is also encouraging to see that we are doing this in a sustainable way, reducing carbon emissions in line with our commitment to net zero.”